Christmas celebrations feel incomplete without a rich and flavorful plum cake. Traditionally, plum cakes are made with eggs and rum, which give them their moist texture and deep aroma. However, many people prefer to avoid alcohol and eggs due to dietary choices or personal beliefs. The good news is that you can still enjoy a delicious, festive plum cake without compromising on taste.

This eggless and rum-free plum cake is made with dried fruits, nuts, warm spices, and orange juice, making it perfect for everyone at the Christmas table.

Ingredients required

For soaking the dry fruits:

• 50 grams tutti-frutti

• 20–25 grams dried blueberries

• 150 grams raisins (three varieties, 50 grams each)

• Orange juice (enough to fully soak the dry fruits)

For the cake batter:

• 140 grams all-purpose flour

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

• 1/4 teaspoon clove powder

• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder

• 1/2 teaspoon dry ginger powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 2 pinches baking soda

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/4 cup jaggery powder

• 100 grams butter

• 140 grams full-cream milk

• 5 ml vanilla essence

• Zest of 1/4 orange

• Zest of 1/2 lemon

Step 1: Soak the dry fruits

Instead of rum, soak all the dry fruits and nuts in orange juice. Place raisins, blueberries, tutti-frutti, walnuts, and almonds in a glass jar and pour in enough orange juice to fully cover them. Seal the jar and keep it aside for at least two days. For deeper flavor, you can soak them for a longer period.

Step 2: Prepare the caramel base

Place a pan on low heat and add sugar. Stir continuously until it melts and turns into caramel. Add jaggery powder and cook until it melts completely. Once the mixture changes color, turn off the heat.

Carefully add water to the caramelized mixture and stir to form a smooth slurry. Turn the heat back on and cook until it thickens slightly. This mixture will thicken further as it cools.

Step 3: Prepare the dry ingredients

In a large bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and all the spices. Keep this mixture aside.

Step 4: Prepare the wet mixture

In another pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the prepared sugar-jaggery caramel mixture along with orange juice and bring it to a gentle boil. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool.

Once cooled, add the soaked dry fruits, milk, and vanilla essence. Mix everything well.

Step 5: Make the batter

Gradually add the wet mixture to the sifted dry ingredients and mix gently. If the batter feels too thick, add the remaining orange juice from the soaked fruits. Add orange zest and a squeeze of lemon juice, and mix well.

Step 6: Bake the cake

Line a loaf tin with butter paper and pour the batter into it. Tap the tin lightly to remove air bubbles. Garnish with dried cranberries, almonds, and some tutti-frutti.

Bake in a preheated oven at 150°C for about 1 hour or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serve and enjoy

Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing. Your eggless and rum-free plum cake is ready to be enjoyed. Share it with family and friends and make your Christmas celebrations even more special with this wholesome, festive treat.